Another thing that we do is we tap our silver, sugar, red, and Manitoba maple trees in the spring. Obviously sugar maple sap is the sweetest, but you can make syrup from all of the others. We evaporate ours on the wood stove in a big stainless roaster or we use the forge outside while casting stuff. I've only made maple sugar by mistake. The Minnesota Volunteer magazine has a good article on doing this. The taps are easy to make and all you need are some plastic (vinegar) jugs. It's kinda a fun thing to do. I'm looking forward to when the sap starts running again. I've heard of people tapping birch trees, but the syrup is not very sweet (IMO).

You can freeze sap for 12 months. My dad uses his turkey fryer (outdoor, propane one) to evaporate the sap he collects. I'm eyeballing that when he decides he needs to move to a condo or retirement home <g>.

The weekly flyers come on Fridays--one of my favorite sources of entertainment is the flyer for the store that sells "frozen pre-made foods." I can't get over that people buy individual serving size bowls of microwaveable oatmeal for $2.99/serving. Everytime that is featured in the flyer, I ROFL. But, it is indicative of the fact that a lot of people have never learned to cook and don't realize that it takes as long to "make" the oatmeal in the microwave as it would to make it from scratch on the stove, or yes, the microwave. I shake my head and laugh.

Well, oatmeal is on "special" this week for $2.29. A new item was added (or at least I haven't seen it before in the flyer). 6 microwaveable grilled cheese sandwiches (I bet that's not "real" cheese used) for $7.99. Wasn't a grilled cheese sandwich one of the first foods we all cooked growing up (besides canned corn <g>)?

This chain is very popular, I guess there is a demand for it, but what does this tell us about society?

Well, oatmeal is on "special" this week for $2.29. A new item was added (or at least I haven't seen it before in the flyer). 6 microwaveable grilled cheese sandwiches (I bet that's not "real" cheese used) for $7.99. Wasn't a grilled cheese sandwich one of the first foods we all cooked growing up (besides canned corn <g>)?

This chain is very popular, I guess there is a demand for it, but what does this tell us about society?

Grilled cheese is what I make when I am too tired or don't feel like cooking. A microwaved grilled cheese sandwich just seems so wrong!

Grilled cheese is what I make when I am too tired or don't feel like cooking. A microwaved grilled cheese sandwich just seems so wrong!

I wonder how the bread stays crisp when nuked...I couldn't believe that there is a market demand for microwaveable grilled cheese sandwiches...what, in 20 years, a house won't include wiring for a stove (I know in Bangkok homes don't come with ovens...).

I wonder how the bread stays crisp when nuked...I couldn't believe that there is a market demand for microwaveable grilled cheese sandwiches...what, in 20 years, a house won't include wiring for a stove (I know in Bangkok homes don't come with ovens...).

My SIL is from Vietnam. She says although her mother sometimes cooks most folks just walk up and down the street eating from various booths. Of course she came from a relatively well to do family but she says this is what most folks do.

As for the whole eating grill cheese or mac and cheese in a restaurant thing, I kind of get that. From a nutritional standpoint it almost makes sense. If you let your kids eat that out for a treat and don't keep it in the house you are probably better off but of course it is ridiculously expense as compared to home made.

I have been self-employed since 1987. When the market tanked in 2007/2008, my annual income took a substantial dive (75%). I had enough of a cushion to get me through 2 years, but I never thought that I would need more than that. I should add that I don't usually get paid until 30 days after I deliver the end product to the client. This makes for tough budgeting. And, the net 10/30 has been stretched out to net 10/90.

I still eat well--I buy on special, I eat a lot more "vegan" dishes, dehydrate mushrooms, fruit, etc. when I can pick them up on special. Make my own bread, bagels, pitas, crackers, etc. I spent $80 on groceries today. Have laundry soap, shampoo, and those things, so this was all food. Combined with what is in the pantry and freezer, these groceries, including the milk--I froze some of it, have to last me until mid-late February--invoice went out today, hopefully the government clerk responsible for submitting it won't let it sit in his/her in-basket for 30 days. The self-employed don't count in the unemployment stats. Banks classify us as "non-employed" (unfortunately, Revenue Canada doesn't share this view). Life is hard when you fall through all the cracks re: assistance (no unemployment insurance for the self-employed) in today's economy. And, hearing that it won't turn around until 2015 is not inspiring.

... more "vegan" dishes, dehydrate mushrooms, fruit, etc. when I can pick them up on special. Make my own bread, bagels, pitas, crackers, etc. I spent $80 on groceries today. Have laundry soap, shampoo, and those things, so this was all food. Combined with what is in the pantry and freezer, these groceries, including the milk--

Now the challenge is to plan a month of menus using what I have on hand <g>. Any thoughts on recipes that can stretch these ingredients to last 30+ days?

K.

CWS--times are tough all over. Sorry.
Menu planning.
Portion the proteins out in 4 oz portions/per person, chicken, beef, eggs...fish? Spread that across the month equally.
Add vegan meals in between, rice/beans, corn--salsa--tortilla wraps?
Add bread or pasta to each meal to fill you up.
Eat veggies and fruit each day in some way.
Eat granola or oatmeal w/fruit/nuts and milk each day for breakfast.
Take your multi-vitamins and drink water each day.

Save $$? Make your own soap and laundry soap. Grow herbs in pots in the house for variety in your cooking in winter, grow them and veggies in the garden or in pots outside in the summer. These things help in the long run for a small investment of time and $$ but not too much in the next 30 days.

Hope those ideas help a little. Do you think with what you have on hand, you'll be able to plan out the month with enough food for your household?

Here's an inspiring blog about two people eating $1/per person per day.Archive September | On A Dollar A Day
I in no way have been compensated for the information or providing the information, except in gaining from shared knowledge.